Paragliding Adventures | Paragliding | Johannesburg

The Friendliest Paragliding School in Gauteng

Learning to fly is great fun, but it must be accomplished with a safe, professional instructional program.

Our staff are committed to being the best paragliding school we can be – our team of instructors are fully licensed and with many years experience in the sport, have a wealth of knowledge to share with new pilots. We are registered with the South African Hang Gliding Association and can provide instruction in Paragliding and Powered Paragliding.

A typical paragliding training course lasts four or more days. The school provides all the required training material and equipment during the training sessions as well as registering the student for a temporary license with SAHPA. It must be emphasized that paragliding is a skills based sports and no-one is born with the ability to paraglide. With sound instruction and supervision, students are trained to master the skills that they require.

Periodically, the school hosts advanced paragliding courses such as Cross Country courses. Please contact one of the instructors should you be interested.

In addition to paragliding, the school offers instruction in Paramotoring. The school also provides additional services such as Team building and Tandem flights.

What is a Tandem flight?

In a tandem flight, a qualified Tandem pilot flies with a passenger. The pilot flies a glider that is specifically designed to take the weight of two peolple and the pilot and the passenger have separate harnesses, attached to each other and to the wing. They are towed up into the air by means of a tow line and a winch. This makes it possible to launch from a field. All that is required from the passenger is a short run at the start, after that, under the expert control of the pilot, the passenger will experience the exhilaration of flight.

Vital Stats

Please take note that launching (take-offs) and landings requires some physical input from the passenger therefore no alcohol consumption before flights is allowed and no person under the influence of alcohol will be flown.

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What is a Tandem flight?

In a tandem flight, a qualified Tandem pilot flies with a passenger. The pilot flies a glider that is specifically designed to take the weight of two people and the pilot and the passenger have separate harnesses, attached to each other and to the wing. They are towed up into the air by means of a tow line and a winch. This makes it possible to launch from a field. All that is required from the passenger is a short run at the start, after that, under the expert control of the pilot; the passenger will experience the exhilaration of flight.

Agenda

Before flying, the pilot will brief the passenger on safety procedures, equipment and a profile of the flight. Thereafter, they will be launched via the winch and enjoy a 10 – 20 minute flight. (The duration of the flight is dependent on the weather and the availability of thermals and cannot be guaranteed.)

Taking part in a tandem flight is a unique experience for you to see the world from a new perspective, normally suited for those who seek thrills. Compared to other adrenaline hobbies such as poker or motorbike racing, this you can do in pairs. For a first time flyer, it often gives moral support and confidence if there is a qualified instructor with you the whole time.

Payment

Cost of the tandem: R 500-00

Payments are usually done on completion of a flight, but flights may be booked in advance and paid via EFT.

Confirmation of Flight

Unfortunately flights cannot be guaranteed on arrival. So it’s better to give us a call at around eight in the morning to enquire about the day’s flight plans and weather predictions. If the weather is fine and we inform you that we will be at the field it is best is to be there. As soon as an assessment is made on the conditions a flight will be possible.

Weather Constraints

Passenger and pilot safety is priority. Weather conditions will assessed to determine whether its safe to fly. When the weather conditions are not ideal for flight, the flight may be postponed to a later date, but in general, we will wait until the weather improves during the day. (In paragliding circles it’s called; “Para-waiting”!)

Midday flights, when the thermals are very strong and violent, are not for the fainthearted and we prefer not to fly in such conditions for safety reasons. Smooth, safer flights are mostly done during early mornings up to around 10:30 or after three o’clock in the afternoons.

For the very brave, the reward is longer airtime and more height gain but there is risk involved.

It is impossible to fly in the rain and winds stronger than 15kph.

Restrictions

Please take note that launching (take-offs) and landings requires some physical input from the passenger therefore no alcohol consumption before flights is allowed and no person under the influence of alcohol will be flown.

Unfortunately persons with a heart condition, obesity, epilepsy or moving disability might also be problematic. It is preferable to use boots with ankle support when coming to fly.

Aborted Flights

Flights are done by winching and normally a second attempt will be done in case of tow line breaks or when a flight was aborted because of any reason whatsoever.

What you need

For your tandem flight, wear comfortable sturdy boots that protect your ankles. In winter, wear a warm jacket and long pants. In summer, be sure to pack plenty of sunscreen and a hat. You may be on the field for a while before you are able to fly. Also, pack a light lunch and something to drink. If you forget, there are shops a few minutes’ drive from the field.

Want more than a tandem flight?

Bring a group of 5 to 10 people for a team building event…

The course takes place over a weekend and you will receive the following:

•Full Supervision with Personal Assistance and the school provides all the necessary paragliding equipment.

After completion of this course, if you would like to continue flying, you can upgrade to the Learn to Fly course for R2000.

How it all started…

In 1998, Bradley Mundell founded SA Paragliding Tours. Bradley had just arrived back to South Africa after sometime in the Caribbean. Bradley grew up around the Harvett School of the SA Air force, as his father worked in the nearby mines.

Bradley was looking for a suitable place to winch and his brother suggested the Dunnottar airfield as the SADF no longer used the field as an airport.

Bradley brought with him from the Caribbean “Mad Max” a static winch that we was using there to fly tandem with the tourists visiting the Caribbean Islands. This static winch was manufactured in Canada by a company called “Vol Libre” by a Mr. Filipe Tibeld in a place close to Quebec.

On 26th June 1999 Bradley Mundel was joined by Tim Stiff and Dalene Stiff on forming “Paragliding Adventures” .This Paragliding School set the standard in the industry with their high quality of training equipment. After a successful year at the school Bradley decided to stop training to pursue more actively his passion for flying.

The school run with Tim and Dalene Stiff from mid 2000 until November 2004 when it was bought by Carlos Rafael and Hendrik van Zyl. These two new owners learned the art of paragliding instruction, by working for the previous owners for about 2 years as assistant instructors.

The process was seamless and the new owner based their activities on what they learnt from the previous owners.

The only difference was the change of winching method from static winching to payout winching.

Carlos and Hendrik also felt that there was a need for including reserve parachutes in the student harnesses.

Today the entire student force at Paragliding Adventures fly with a backup reserve from flight one. This is not a requirement from the regulating organization, but a standard set by us.

Paragliding Adventures is 9 Years old in 2008, and have contributed to the paragliding community with vast number outstanding pilots

Training

Introduction

The course takes place over a weekend and you will receive the following:

Full Supervision with Personal Assistance and the school provides all the necessary paragliding equipment.

Once this course has been completed, you are eligible to continue with the “Learn to Fly” course

“Learn to Fly” Training Course – R 3000-00

Introduce yourself to solo free flight by developing the basic skills for paragliding through this informative 4 day – 10 flight training course.

Note: These 10 flights are weather dependant and can take more or less than 4 flying days. (You have a month to complete these flights.)

Comprises of:

•Theory

•Introduction to Equipment

•Introduction to Weather Assessment

•Safety Aspects

•Winch Conversion

•Practical’s

•Ground Handling

•Preparation for Flight

•In-flight Canopy Control

•Landing Procedures

•Safety

•10 Winch Flights

•Full Supervision with Personal Assistance

On completion of this course you will have experienced the wonder of following the birds into the sky. At this stage you are welcome to join us on the Basic License Course which will quickly take you to a confidence level with the ability to fly on your own.

Take Off

Note: Both courses must be completed before you are eligible to continue with the Completion of Basic Pilot License course.

Completion of Basic Pilot License – R3500-00

Put the knowledge and experience you have gained as a student pilot to good use. This intensive course covers takes you to a total of 35 flights (with the ‘Learn to Fly’). The Basic Pilot’s License is normally achieved within 2 to 3 months. Some pilots achieve their license in less time than this and others take longer. Our training obligation lasts until the pilot achieves their Basic License or until the Temporary Student License (valid for 5 months) expires whichever comes first. The Temporary Student License can be renewed for a further 5 months, see Terms and Conditions for details. After the 35 flights have been achieved the pilot has the option to rent equipment from us or purchase their own.

Comprises of:

•Continuation of the previous course facilities including full use of all school equipment.

•23 flights

•Advanced ground handling

•Basic Thermalling

•Basic safety manoeuvres

•Mountain flying at a minimum of 2 different mountain sites.

With the use of videos, theory lectures, practical lessons, the required number of winch launch and mountain launch flights, we will bring you to the Basic Pilot Level.

Basic License Exam (lectures are given weekly to aid you in completion of the exam).

Bilene

29 SEPTEMBER 2010

The long weekend in September Paragliding Adventures took a break from the winch park and went to Bilene in Mozambique. I took an older glider with as I was not convinced that there would be much free flying. I was wrong! Luckily Pieter Gerrits and Wikus had four by fours…so as soon as we arrived on Thursday we saw the wind direction was perfect for the dunes. We headed towards the dunes (strictly 4 by 4’s) and stumbled upon the most sexy and gorgeous big dunes where we could have launched from safely, do top or slope landings, practise ground handling or just muck about. The scenery around the dunes is very “Wildernis Paradise Ridge” lookalike but it’s only flyable for more or less 2km’s on both sides of take off.

I promptly launched and pigged out for almost two hours. Hendrik launched and landed and launched and landed and did lots of mucking about before helping Monique our new lady student to do a couple of short flights.

That afternoon Hendrik and Glenn went for a late night PPG flight over the lagoon.

Sunday morning they did same but unfortunately Hendriks PPG struggled with belt slips and some other mechanical issues and Glenn chipped his prop when he wanted to do a second flight, rendering the two PPG’s out of action.

That afternoon we went back to the dunes. This time I opted for a mere hour flight and then spent the rest of the time doing topslope landings, ridge posing and kiting the glider back up the glorious dune. Hendrik proofed that his ground handling is still tops by slope landing in between Glenn and Monique, keeping his glider above him, having a (cool…) drink and then taking off again. Monique had an awesome flight and so did George. Even Carlos proudly displayed his ground handling and kiting skills when the audience started to grow with people coming to check what we were up to.

Awesome weekend, with some pitfalls though… PG and PPG flying are still relatively unknown activities and sensitive in Moz…speak to Carlos if you want to go fly there he has nice accommodation for you and sorted out some issues with the Marine Police, Military Police, Secret Police, KGB, Aero Club, Airport and everybody else having an AK47 slinged around the shoulder wanting to be some sort of a policeman…An unknown PPG pilot got nabbed flying too close past the Presidents house…

Driving or even parking a vehicle on the beach is a big no-no but you may go crackers (without helmet) in central town on a quad or off road bike or your car that seems to be just fine. The more girls walking the streets the more and bigger 360’s you can do with same vehicles…

For a first time visitor like me, Maputo City (if you may call it a city) and Komatipoort border post was very interesting…The Swaziland posts on the return trip was much more to my liking.

Keep Discovering …

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